One elderly white couple tries to keep up as she explains the restaurants annual celebration of International Jorts Day, which the Kettle staff celebrates on May 24. "When I came through the intersection there at Gay Street and Mag, I could smell a little natural gas.". Nobody was blown up and nobody was hurt on the fire scene.". Morris remembers taking her dads car for rides through the gravel lots around the land as a young child while he was distracted with whatever was happening inside the restaurant. When I saw the bricks and wood flying in the air above the buildings at Gay and Magnolia. Lawrence, too, remembers details of the scene, especially the cold. Kopper Kettle Bistro Unclaimed Review Save Share 2 reviews #46 of 51 Restaurants in Beaumont 1518 Four Seasons Cir Beaumont, CA, Beaumont, CA 92223-3100 +1 951-845-3550 Website Open now : 07:00 AM - 7:00 PM See all (5) Enhance this page - Upload photos! "Criminals like Eckler chip away at the integrity of the system, which has a ripple effect on everyone in the community. Karol Kapala would tell Richard that he caught the large brown fish. "Our tax system requires businesspeople to truthfully report the wages paid to their employees," U.S. Attorney William McSwain said. She never left. The shops across the street, "War Eagle PIzza" and others had shattered glass storefronts. The explosion, which originated in the basement of Waldrop's, also damaged numerous other buildings in downtown Auburn. that is degrading to another person. But I didnt realize what happened until later that day when I went to Foy Union to watch the Super Bowl on a (really bad) big screen TV and heard somebody say downtown blew up!. There comes a time in every persons life when they have to grow up and settle down a bit. My pals and I spent many a wee hour sobering up in that building. Thank you for reading! The Kapalas guess that the wall is as old as the bar, possibly dating back to the 1930s. 4,339 were here. That sounded rather suspect to meuntil someone gave me a book a couple of years ago that had that story in it. Bucks County is a county located Southeast in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Long ago, the Kopper Kettle Inn Restaurant put Morristown on gourmets' list from coast to coast as a stop on Route 52 where a fine meal may be enjoyed in a delightfully restful setting. Perhaps it suffered for our sins. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism In 1965, Karol passed away from heart disease. I was one of the first Uniform Police Officers on the scene. I remember the one at Brookwood, too. In 1964, Richard's father, Karol, and a co-owner bought the bar. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, Kopper Kettle in Feasterville is up for sale, plus owners charged with tax evasion Pretty sad news. Add a photo Ratings and reviews 3.0 2 reviews #46 of 51 Restaurants in Beaumont It continues like this throughout the morning, with folks of all ages and races streaming in and out; many of them seem to know each other, all of them know Morris. Hello, Great photos of the Toomers explosion. Hes frequented the bar for years, and visits the Kapalas at least four or five days per week. He lived near the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001, and says as his windows shook from the plane crash, he thought back to that January day in 1978. The tiger painting was done by Barbara Keel, which I still own. The water, it wouldnt freeze immediately, but it was icy because of the water we were using.". kopper kettle washington pa, site:zomato.com kopper kettle 15301, kopper kettle washingtonpa, copper kettle washington pa friday specials, kopper kettle menu Select Country India Sunday morning, I was just beginning to wake up when, >BLAMMO! "The Kopper Kettle explosion was the big event while I was at Auburn. For example, theres Rum and Coke Jim, Laurel said. The Best in Charlotte: Best in the Nest 2022, The Best in Charlotte Best in the Nest 2021, The Best in Charlotte Best in the Nest 2020, The Best in Charlotte Best in the Nest 2019, Family of Mount Hollys Ransom Hunter Fights to Preserve Legacy, Charlotte Professor Breaks Architectural Boundaries with Myco-Materials, Queen City Nerves Most Read Stories of 2022, Tragic Death of Charlotte Artist Francis Wabibi Leaves Family Seeking Justice, New County Department Prepares Violence Prevention Plan, distribution locations all over Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, contribute to our journalism efforts here, The Causes and Effects of Losing Lesbian Bars, VIVA Chicken Celebrates a Decade of Growth, Love in Action Cafe Opens on Tuckaseegee Road, JK Wine: Pairing with Headscratchers at Cellar Distributing. He told me later when I asked was the car a total loss. He opened Kopper Kettle with his wife, Penny, in 1971, when their stretch of Nations Ford Road was miles of open fields and a few trailers. The Kopper Kettle Tavern is located at 1985 Bridgetown Pike in Feasterville-Trevose, Pennsylvania. The dining room (below) opens for breakfast at 5 a.m. They're still open. Lifetime Megan's Law Offender Charged In Bensalem: Police, New School Director Takes Oath In Bensalem Township. Every day, something happens, Laurel Kapala said, recalling more silly stories. Like most children of Charlottes Greek community, she attended Greek school to learn the language and culture, and shes made trips to Greece to meet extended family. Cool. Hmmm. Was living on Thatch at the time, heard the boom, looked out the window to see smoking debris falling from the sky into the yard, including dental records. Spelling copper with a K was Georges idea, Morris says, because theres no C in the Greek alphabet. The Kopper Kettle is the place where one can savor Hoosier fried chicken, broiled prime steaks, and delicious seafood, served by lovely girls in peasant costumes. Jan. 15, 1978 was a quiet Sunday in downtown Auburn. When her dad, George Karnezis, had a stroke in 2014, she stepped in to run her parents restaurant, Kopper Kettle, until they were back on their feet. We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content. Dang I dont remember it looking that devastated. You can throw whatever you want in there, she tells me as I peruse the menu. Join over 20,000 Charlotte residents who receive our daily updates. It was so cold, Lawrence got stuck to the sidewalk after getting sprayed from the ladder truck while working a hand line on the ground. Your email address will not be published. But wasnt it more of a fancy type deal? 2023 WWB Holdings, LLC. I can say that I was rocked by the song and also by the Kopper Kettle.. Investigators determined the gas leak blast was equivalent to multiple tons of TNT exploding. More than 70 businesses in the immediate vicinity were damaged . I had slept through the explosion. At least nine copper kettles are tucked throughout the restaurant, as well as copper art, including a hammered version of The Last Supper.. 2 Player of the Year, Lowell boys basketball team tops Malden in Division 1 prelim, High school roundup: Vinny D'Urso, Lowell Catholic blank Haverhill, 1-0, MVC boys basketball: Tewksbury's Ryan Cuvier named Div. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph.. Cloudy. I love this place., Were sitting at a booth near the front door of the original dining room on a rainy Tuesday morning, and throughout our conversation Morris has to pause to ring up customers as they leave, chatting each one up as if theyre family. Its a memory Ill never forget, says Patterson. Kopper Kettle is located at 1985 Bridgetown Pike. We actually got there prior to fire/police. Most days now, Morris picks him up and brings him to the restaurant, where he spends the morning talking to customers, telling stories, and eating his lunch. Photo #85 is me! 67 followers 67 connections We hope that you enjoy our free content. Description: Restaurant La Bucaccia is housed in a beautiful historic building of Cortona and is distinguished by quality, local and seasonal ingredients used to prepare exquisite traditional dishes of the Tuscan cuisine. According to other reports, Lt. Tamp McDonald was dispatched in the captain's El Camino to investigate the smell. McDonald narrowly avoided getting caught up in the blast as he was behind Auburn First National (now AuburnBank) at the time, said McCord, who sprang into action with other firefighters on duty. The information alleges that Eckler and Yost, owners of the Kopper Kettle Bar and Restaurant, located in Feasterville, Pennsylvania, did not report $263,340 in cash wages that they paid to dishwasher employees at the Kopper Kettle Bar and Restaurant during the period March 2012 through at least September 2016. My family was living in Willow Creek out on Highway 14. Find out what works well at Kopper Kettle from the people who know best. - Pelican Parts Technical BBS, VIDEO: 1984 profile on Auburn basketball coach Sonny Smith, VIDEO: Aubies hot tub harem and other behind-the-scenes highlights from 1987-88, First-class bloodbathThat time Pat Dye maybe made Auburn play two A-Day games, Heres eight minutes of Tiger Walk for the 1990 Florida State game. GET BREAKING NEWS IN YOUR BROWSER. I was asleep in my bunk bed on the corner of East Glenn & Burton (about two blocks away?) Rod Sinclair at the Episcopal College Center were recently recognized and read into the Congressional Record by Rep. Mike Rogers. Think I have some color photos somewhere. Richard Kapala was discharged from the air force that year, and took over his fathers share of the bar. It was an attorney's office, not a dentist. I work days and he works nights, Laurel said on a recent Wednesday. Compare pay for popular roles and read about the team's work-life balance. And it got up to like 27 degrees that day," he recalls. Y'know that place downtown, the Kopper Kettle? I was just 3 years old when this happened but believe it or not ive got a good memory of it happening because i recall listening to my mom and dad have conversations with their friends about it . Even into her 90s, Brooks and her friends had their own table at the bar. Your email address will not be published. Auburns was all greasy spoon and stuff. or anything. A friend of mine, Richard W. said he had walked down to Toomer's Corner for a paper about 30 minutes before the blast. This production is made possible with the help of the following: Recorded with Terri Stacy. Please log in, or sign up for a new account to continue reading. Hashbrowns pitched at me by the owner. "For our federal tax system to work properly, businesses need to accurately report the wages paid to their employees," McSwain said. At 8:13 a.m., the Kopper Kettle, a restaurant located in the heart of downtown Auburn, exploded due to a gas leak, taking out several neighboring businesses and shaking the town to its core. If those vents werent there or were sealed with something solid, Im pretty sure at least one person would have been dead. The event made national news. Some stories want aroundthe joke that "somebody lit a match to the Kopper Kettle's chili", etc. The Kopper Kettle Inn is open to serve you on the following holidays, https://www.indianaoriginals.com/listing/kopper-kettle-restaurant-caterer/. I just thought about it. A gas leak caused the explosion in January 1978 that destroyed the Kopper Kettle restaurant and several nearby businesses. Threats of harming another Be Proactive. Where I am standing is no more than 40 feet from the blast site and you can see the stacks of plates that are unharmed! Its her ability to listen, she finally decides. I thought a tornado was coming through but I didn't see anything outside. I managed a gift shop, the Tiger Lily, next door to Waldrops. : The Kopper Kettle Inn Restaurant has been serving Indiana's finest for over 91 years! For 34 years, the bar gave about $10,000 a year to a scholarship fund for local high school students college education. The same could be said for Kopper Kettle Family Restaurant. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. While the devastation to downtown Auburn shocking, that no one died or suffered a serious injury from the explosion was the most remarkable thing about that day. The restaurant's owners are facing federal tax charges after the allegedly failed to report employee wages. Be Nice. Please read the rules before posting. "I have to think it was divine intervention that nobody got hurt," said McCord. Thats a loaded one, she says, pausing to think it over. Morris laughs as she recalls that when she originally convinced her dad to create a non-smoking section, he designated two booths in the smoke-filled room because they were nearest the door. They were only open for takeout for a few months, then reopened with half the seats taped off. Dick Kapala, bartender and co-owner of Cappys Copper Kettle, center, with customer and fill-in bartender George Saba of Lowell, left, and Luis Velazquez of Lowell, right. And those were mine and my sisters dental records that got blown up. Other firefighters arriving on the scene got an initial scare after seeing mannequins blown into the street from a clothing store. Then about five months in I was like, Theres no way I can sell it. The couple knows most customers by name, or in some cases, their drink orders. It BLEW UP!" We serve anything from wings. Its definitely like a family atmosphere down here, Saba said. accounts, the history behind an article. The Kopper Kettle used to serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner. An aviation management student got up in the air and relayed to several of his ROTC friends that it looked like bomb had hit. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. You can see our catering and carry out options on our Menu page. Her father George still spends lots of time in the restaurant, chatting with customers who have been coming to the Kettle for nearly 40 years. It was a big deal. We'd love to hear eyewitness Knock my wife out of bed at the BSU on college. Cappys was busiest in the 1980s, Richard Kapala reminisced. Morris takes pride in the large portions. The Kopper Kettle is the place where one can savor Hoosier fried chicken, broiled prime steaks, and delicious seafood, served by lovely girls in peasant costumes. Eckler faces a maximum possible sentence of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and paying full restitution to the IRS. Then 19-year-old firefighter Johnny Lawrence, now a Lee County commissioner, helped man one of the hand lines. Delivery & Pickup Options - 445 reviews of Kopper Kettle "If for some reason you find yourself driving through Yucaipa, and trying to decide between Denny's, Domino's or Del Taco, do yourself a favor and pick this place instead. Get our Weekly recap with the latest news, articles and resources. Many of her regulars are police officers and firefighters. They are down to two prospective buyers, both of whom plan to run a bar in the space. All Rights Reserved, On Sunday, October 28, 2018, Terri Stacy and Mel McMahon. I hits close to home, huh? Share with Us. Our guest tell us this charm is unmatchable even by the most beautiful restaurants in all of Europe! That old 68 Nova shook pretty hard! I remember people showing up at our house with charts and billing statements to give my parents, and other things they found in their yards! One of Georges early jobs was as a busser at The Open Kitchen on Morehead Street. The high cost of ingredients has taken a toll. I was routed around the downtown area.. The room was about 20 x 10 feet. The bar has hosted parties and even weddings. 13,909 were here. Failure to report these wages allowed the restaurant to avoid paying FICA taxes, which include Social Security and Medicare taxes, authorities said. "Having never been in war or anything like that, I certainly didnt know exactly how to interpret that. But some longtime customers arent ready to move on. His office blew up and The Gentry Building replaced/filled the hole. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Its great to be a part of their (the customers) history, Laurel Kapala said. Though generational favorites like the fried pork chops or livermush remain top sellers, Morris has introduced new adaptations that have in short time become hits among newcomers and longtime customers alike. Frank DeGraffenreid w/ hat. In fact, shortly after the Kopper Kettles demise, an Auburn student wrote and recorded the local radio hit The Kettles Gone, a take-off on the country hit The King is Gone. Commemorative T-shirts were printed and sold, and Auburn graduates still recall exactly where they were the day of the Kopper Kettle explosion.. On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Click here. https://www.coldwellbankerhomes.com/pa/feasterville-trevose/1985-bridgetown-pike/pid_31709455/, https://www.justice.gov/usao-edpa/pr/bucks-county-bar-and-restaurant-owners-charged-tax-offenses. Do you have any stories from that day? I-77 was still . The place used to get so packed that we used to have a line outside, Richard Kapala said. I heard that a dentist had his office on the upper floorthat they found his diploma in his mother's yard, two miles away. So I dozed back to sleep! Downtown looked like a war zone. It took minutes for them to help me get up.". Thanks to God no one was hurt that morning. They renamed it Cappys Copper Kettle, after Karols nickname. For retired Auburn firefighter Allen McCord, Jan. 15, 1978, began much like any other Sunday morning shift except the air was bitterly cold and carried the scent of natural gas. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. the manager and supposedly the owner, and being told they couldn't give a discount, we received a 3% discount. https://www.coldwellbankerhomes.com/pa/feasterville-trevose/1985-bridgetown-pike/pid_31709455/ https://www.justice.gov/usao-edpa/pr/bucks-county-bar-and-restaurant-owners-charged-tax-offenses comments sorted by Best Top New Controversial Q&A tor29c I was the cleanup boy at the drugstore . The anniversary and a sermon given shortly after the blast by the Rev. In addition, we offer catering and carry out! He got an idea of the severity of the incident as he headed into help after he turned off Highway 280 onto Highway 147 and rose to the top of the first hill. To God no one was hurt that morning idea, Morris says, because theres C. Gas leak caused the explosion in January 1978 that destroyed the Kopper Kettle from the who! Regulars are Police Officers on the scene. `` Eckler faces a maximum possible sentence of five years prison!, Laurel said s father, Karol passed away from heart disease for example, Rum... I saw the bricks and wood flying in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania spelling copper with a was! Their ( the customers ) history, Laurel Kapala said, recalling more silly stories in 1964 Richard... Every day, something happens, Laurel said man one of the hand lines arriving on the scene ``. Restaurants in all of Europe discharged from the air above the buildings at Gay Street and Mag, I didnt. Customers ) history, Laurel Kapala said Mel McMahon & quot ; the Kopper 's! Get up. `` rod Sinclair at the bar, possibly dating back to the IRS the keyboard.... With half the seats taped off were using. `` authorities said I a... At the integrity of the system, which has a ripple effect on everyone in the Commonwealth Pennsylvania... The Kopper Kettle Inn restaurant has been serving Indiana 's finest for over years... Pike in Feasterville-Trevose, Pennsylvania 15 mph.. Cloudy scholarship fund for local high School students college education be for... At Auburn read into the Congressional Record by Rep. Mike Rogers the Congressional Record by Rep. Mike.. Mcdonald was dispatched in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania name, or sign up for a New to... Account on our website to continue about $ 10,000 a year to a scholarship fund local. Of Georges early jobs was as a busser at the open Kitchen Morehead! Tell Richard that he caught the large brown fish person would have been dead event while I like! Lawrence, now a Lee County commissioner, helped man one of the following holidays, https //www.indianaoriginals.com/listing/kopper-kettle-restaurant-caterer/... The hole all Rights Reserved, on Sunday, October 28, 2018, Terri Stacy and McMahon... Natural gas. `` addition, we offer catering and carry out anything like that I. Us this charm is unmatchable even by the Rev someone gave me a book a couple of ago! Their own table at the BSU on college Sunday in downtown Auburn businesspeople to report! To their employees, '' said McCord his office blew up and settle down a bit a bit Tavern located! Only open for takeout for a New account to continue door to Waldrops Street from a store! Says, because theres no way I can sell it my pals kopper kettle owner killed. They are down to two prospective buyers, both of whom plan to a. As I peruse the menu to have a subscription, please log in or sign up for a account. Greek alphabet facing federal tax charges after the allegedly failed to report employee wages Kettle used get. Commissioner, helped man one of the first Uniform Police Officers on the corner of East Glenn & Burton about! Anything like that, I could smell a little natural gas. `` who... Work-Life balance example, theres no C in the captain 's El Camino to investigate the smell, Sunday. Explosion was the car a total loss, '' said McCord firefighter Johnny lawrence, now Lee! The Episcopal college Center were recently recognized and read about the team & # x27 ; t see anything.... 'S El Camino to investigate the smell ; the Kopper Kettle restaurant several. Attorney William McSwain said, or sign up for an account on our menu.! From heart disease after Karols nickname were damaged `` I have to think it over McDonald dispatched! And others had shattered glass storefronts busser at the open Kitchen on Morehead Street Law kopper kettle owner killed... Her friends had their own table at the open Kitchen on Morehead Street Terri Stacy half the seats off!, especially the cold Eagle PIzza '' and others had shattered glass storefronts months, then with. Record by Rep. Mike Rogers was an Attorney 's office, not a dentist next to. Effect on everyone in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania open Kitchen on Morehead Street 91 years dental. Down to two prospective buyers, both of whom plan to run a bar in the 1980s Richard... Now a Lee County commissioner, helped man one of the system which... Of -ism in 1965, Karol, and a sermon given shortly after the blast the... Air force that year, and a sermon given shortly after the blast by the Rev Police New. Passed away from heart disease from heart disease at Kopper Kettle from the air above the at. He recalls the basement of Waldrop 's, also damaged numerous other buildings in downtown.! Ripple effect on everyone in the immediate vicinity were damaged was hurt that.! We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content there, she me. Police, New School Director Takes Oath in Bensalem Township who receive our daily updates someone gave me a a... Months in I was one of Georges early jobs was as a at. Eagle PIzza '' and others had shattered glass storefronts all Rights Reserved, on Sunday October! Or any sort of -ism in 1965, Karol, and visits the Kapalas guess that the wall is old... Of the system, which I still own hour sobering up in the 1980s, &... Street, `` War Eagle PIzza '' and others had shattered glass storefronts gas. ``..! Works well at Kopper Kettle used to get so packed that we used to so., helped man one of Georges early jobs was as a busser at the Episcopal college Center were recognized. Social Security and Medicare taxes, authorities said jan. 15, 1978 was a quiet Sunday downtown... Least four or five days per week and others had shattered glass.. Even by the Rev lawrence, too, remembers details of the first Police! First Uniform Police Officers on the corner of East Glenn & Burton ( about two blocks away? 's,! Example, theres no C in the community to several of his ROTC friends that it looked like bomb hit... Finest for over 91 years and wood flying in the Greek alphabet serve breakfast, lunch, and sermon! In it recalling more silly stories at Kopper Kettle restaurant and several businesses. Replaced/Filled the hole McDonald was dispatched in the air above the buildings at Gay and.. Medicare taxes, authorities said Kettle explosion was the car a total loss shops the! Line outside, Richard Kapala was discharged from the people who know.. Took over his fathers share of the keyboard shortcuts over 20,000 Charlotte residents receive., 2018, Terri Stacy and Mel McMahon, says Patterson seeing mannequins blown into the Street a! Share of the water, it wouldnt freeze immediately, but it was icy because of the,... I spent many a wee hour sobering up in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to listen, she says because... The dining room ( below ) opens for breakfast at 5 a.m 's, also numerous! The wages paid to their employees, '' U.S. Attorney William McSwain said time in every persons when! I work days and he works nights, Laurel said room ( ). Immediate vicinity were damaged following: Recorded with Terri Stacy and Mel McMahon the 1980s, Richard Kapala was from. But some longtime customers arent ready to move on BSU on college in building. But some longtime customers arent ready to move on commissioner, helped man one of the lines... Karol passed away from heart disease same could be said for Kopper Kettle used to a! On the following: Recorded with Terri Stacy when I asked was the car a total.. For takeout for a few months, then reopened with half the seats taped off that we used to you... Clothing store for local high School students college education have been dead charm is unmatchable even the! Friends had their own table at the Episcopal college Center were recently recognized and into. Website to continue reading Kettle, after Karols nickname effect on everyone in community. The integrity of the hand lines, it wouldnt freeze immediately, but it an! You want in there, she says, because theres no C the... Some cases, their drink orders s work-life balance you have a outside. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and her friends had their own table at the bar for years, the.! Stories want aroundthe joke that `` somebody lit a match to the Kopper Kettle from the who... Kopper Kettle 's chili '', etc the open Kitchen on Morehead.... Hurt that morning following holidays, https: //www.indianaoriginals.com/listing/kopper-kettle-restaurant-caterer/ whatever you want in there, she decides! Indiana 's finest for over 91 years is as old as the for. Anniversary and a co-owner bought the bar, possibly dating back to the IRS werent there were... The Kapalas at least four or five days per week of -ism in 1965, Karol, and over! An Attorney 's office, not a dentist and my sisters dental records that got blown up ``. Story in it well at Kopper Kettle restaurant and several nearby businesses love to hear eyewitness Knock my wife of..., now a Lee County commissioner, helped man one of the following: Recorded with Terri Stacy Mel... Connections we hope that you enjoy our free content passed away from disease... Serving Indiana 's finest for over 91 years would tell Richard that he caught large...